Distance Learning, Planning, and Facilitation Support

While your transition to a distance learning method of instruction may require expediency, it is also critical that stakeholders are provided with professional learning. Even minimal professional learning and support will support a successful distance learning migration. It is also important that teachers/staff have resources to assist them as they navigate the distance learning environment.

The following articles are available to support you as you plan to deliver instruction using distance learning tools/resources.

Title: Distance Learning Best Practices, Tips, and Tools for Teachers
 

Category: Distance Learning Best Practices
 

Audience: Admin/Teachers
 

Description: Region 4 ESC shares best practices, tips, and tools for distance learning.
 

Title: Sharing Coronavirus Contingency Planning Best Practices
 

Category: Distance Learning Best Practices
 

Audience: Admin/Teachers
 

Description: Blackboard provides best practices for creating and sustaining an distance learning environment.

Title: Resources for Teaching Online Due to School Closures
 

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Teachers
 

Description: Edublogger's Kathleen Morris provides support with the logistics associated with setting up an online learning environment. (i.e. daily structure, using interactive components, setting up your home base, etc.)

Topic: Preparing to Take School Online? Here Are 10 Tips to Make It Work
 

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: Reshan Richards and Stephanie J. Valentine of EdSurge share 10 tips to support the success of online instruction.

Provider: The Global Online Academy

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: A collection of resources to support effective and efficient remote learning. The organization shares support that they have fine-tuned over the past nine years. Strategies, design tips, instructional methodologies for the remote learning environment, and various downloads are available.
 

Provider: Universal Design for Learning

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: A framework designed to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. The UDL framework guides the design of instructional goals, assessments, methods, and materials that can be customized and adjusted to meet individual needs. This philosophy and the standards designed based on the UDL Guidelines are standards and methods that virtual learning instructors rely on to help run their virtual learning classrooms and environments.

Provider: Quality Matters

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: An organization founded to make online learning better for students, educators and other stakeholders. Rubrics and Standards have been designed to provide objective, evidence-based ways to evaluate the components of online learning. These rubrics and standards have also provided quality assurance guidance to virtual learning instructors and assistance in building and improving their online courses. Check out the K-12 Rubric for guidance on the elements you should think about as you work on your journey to providing online learning experiences for your students.

Title: Resources for Learning at Home When Schools Close (UPDATED)
 

Provider: The New Teacher Project
 

Category: Distance Learning Best Practices/Resources
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: A collection of resources to support at home learning via a blog by Crystal Harmon.

Title: Distance Learning Readiness Kit
 

Provider: Schoology
 

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: A collection of resources put together by Schoology to help districts/campuses with distance learning.

Title: OTIS for Educators (Free)
 

Provider: Teq
 

Category: Distance Learning Planning-Logistics
 

Audience: Administrators/Teachers
 

Description: Teq is offering all of their PD courses for FREE to help schools implement distance learning and online professional development.

Microsoft Teams Remote Learning

A Collaboration Between Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) and Microsoft

• Getting Started: Microsoft Teams for EDU Quick Start Guide

• IT/Leader:Get started with Microsoft Teams for Remote Learning

• Educator/Student: Remote teaching and learning in Office 365 Education

• Training/Tips:Teams EDU Remote Learning Webinars |MEC: Getting Started with Online Learning in Office 365

• Parent/Guardian: Remote learning with Office 365: Guidance for parents and guardians

• Educator Examples: Microsoft Teams for EDU Scenarios (Flipgrid):K12 |Higher Education

• Blog: How schools can ramp up remote learning programs quickly with Microsoft Teams

• Collection: Remote Learning Wakelet (collection of Microsoft resources for Remote Learning)

Support for Commonly Used Distance Learning Tools & Resources

Microsoft Teams is a digital hub that brings conversations, content, assignments, and apps together in one place, letting teachers create vibrant learning environments. Build collaborative classrooms, connect in professional learning communities, and connect with colleagues. The following resources mentioned above and below will help you get started:

• Sign Up for Free

• Getting Started Guide

​

Note: Zoom is temporarily lifting the 40-minute time limit on free Basic accounts for schools affected by the Coronavirus. To get access for your school, sign up for a free Basic account here using your school’s email address. Fill out the information for your school to remove the 40 minute time limit for anyone on your school’s domain after verification. Personal email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook are not eligible.

The following resources are available to support your use of the Zoom platform: Zoom Website Zoom Support Extension & App Download FERPA & HIPAA Compliance Subscribe to Zoom Blog Posts   Zoom Meeting Security & Support During COVID-19 Making Zoom Meetings More Secure How to Keep Uninvited Guests Out of Your Zoom Event Global Zoom Account Security A Message to Our Users Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic Need Quick Info on How to Zoom? Check Out These New Videos   How to Use Zoom Download and check out the Getting Started Guide and Zoom Online Event Best Practices. Watch the following bite-sized Zoom Video Tutorials on YouTube and check out these additional Zoom Tutorials: Changing Your Meeting Settings Scheduling a Meeting Host and Co-Host Controls in a Meeting Managing Participants in a Meeting Participate in Live Webinars or Recorded Webinars for an in-depth understanding of how to run Zoom meetings. We highly recommend watching the following recorded webinars: Getting Started with Zoom Zoom Meetings Training Zoom Meetings for Education Training View the Webinars and Best Practices Resources page.

 

Joining & Configuring Audio/Video	Schedule a Meeting	Sharing Your Screen	Record a Meeting
Clever has recently partnered with Zoom to make video conferencing free for all districts experiencing school closures.
If you are a teacher interested in using Zoom, please contact your district administration with a link to the setup guide. District Admin must set up Zoom first.   Using Zoom through the Clever Portal   Additional Clever Resources (video): How to Login to Clever Using Clever Badges		Zoom accounts setup through Clever will include the following: Unlimited teacher accounts No time limit on class sessions (40 minute limit removed) Single sign-on via the Clever Portal Support for PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, iPads, Android phones & iPhones All of these features will be available at no charge through July 1, 2020.   For more information, click here.
Edgenuity is a leading provider of K–12 online learning solutions, partnering with schools and districts throughout the country to provide the tools and support they need to leverage technology to improve student outcomes.
To minimize any disruption your students experience during school closure, Edgenuity is offering a variety of customized options.   Teacher-Led Solution: A free teacher-led online solution where educators can quickly and easily use Edgenuity’s online curriculum to continue offering instruction. Educators can broadcast lessons using Zoom or Google Classroom. The following resources are available to support your use of Edgenuity: Getting Started Video Library       Nearpod is an instructional platform that merges formative assessment and dynamic media for collaborative learning experiences. They're extending impacted schools and districts temporary access. Request access here.   The following resources are also available to support your use of Nearpod and Flocabulary: Nearpod YouTube Channel Live Webinars (i.e. Deliver Digital Lessons for Home-based Learning) Nearpod & Flocabulary: Home-Based Learning Resources If you have specific questions about any resources, contact support@nearpod.com or support@flocabulary.com
		Google Classroom simplifies creating, distributing, and grading assignments in a paperless way. The primary purpose of Google Classroom is to streamline the process of sharing files between teachers and students.   The following resources are available to support your use of the Google Classroom platform:   Website: https://classroom.google.com/   How to Use Google Classroom Getting Started with Google Classroom Creating Resources in Google Classroom Creating Different Assignments in Google Classroom
Google is providing free access to advanced Hangouts Meet video-conferencing capabilities to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally including: Larger meetings, for up to 250 participants per call Live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain The ability to record meetings and save them to Google Drive These features are typically available in the Enterprise edition of G Suite and in G Suite Enterprise for Education, and will be available at no additional cost to all customers until July 1, 2020.   The following resources are available to support your use of Google Hangouts: How to Use Google Hangouts Google Meet Cheat Quick Guide

 

Use Screencastify to easily record, edit, and share videos. It can be used for video lesson tutorials, video presentations, video coaching, and so much more. Download for free at screencastify.com. With this tool, users are able to: Capture their tab, whole screen, or webcam only Embed their webcam anywhere in their recording Narrate with their microphone Record offline (no internet required!)   Additional Resources for using Screencastify Getting Started with Screencastify Add Comments to Videos in Screencastify